Shipping Tips for Data Recovery
If you need to ship your hard drive or disks for data recovery service, proper packing of your media can help protect it during shipment from being damaged further, increasing the chances of a succesful recovery of your files. Use the following tips to ensure your media is protected from further damage against the stress & jarring that can occur during shipping.
- If possible, remove the disk drive from the computer
If you are sending a hard drive or other disk drive for recovery, you only need to send the drive that is experiencing data loss. If possible, remove the hard drive from the computer it is installed in.
If you are unsure how to do this, call our data recovery experts or get expert help.
Caution: To avoid damage due to electrostatic discharge (ESD), commonly known as static electricity, be sure to discharge any built-up static electricity by touching a grounded metal object (such as the metal frame of the computer case).
Warning: To reduce the risk of shock, be sure to shut down and unplug your computer before opening the case and attempting to remove any disk drives.
- Enclose the media in an anti-static bag
Any damaged media, including hard drives, removable disks, backup tapes or other media, should be wrapped in an anti-static bag to prevent damage from ESD during shipment.
- Ship in a sturdy box at least twice the size of the drive or disks
If possible, we recommend using the drive's original packaging to protect the drive during shipment. If the original packaging is damaged or no longer available, use a sturdy corrugated cardboard box that is at least twice the size of the drive being returned.
- Use proper packing materials
The media should be packaged using packing material that completely surrounds the drive or disks and does not allow for movement of the enclosed media. Lenovo recommends using a solid packing foam material that can absorb impact, but keep the drive in place.
Use of packing pellets, bubble wrap, newspaper or inflatable packing materials is not recommended as these materials may allow the drive to shift during shipment.
If multiple drives are being shipped, ensure there is sufficient padding between the individual drives to prevent them from touching during shipment.
- Use extra packing if sending an entire computer or laptop
If you need to send an entire laptop or desktop computer for recovery, use great care to ensure proper protection. Lenovo recommends at least 6 inches of padding on all sides of the computer or laptop.
- Final preparations for your package
Before sealing your package for shipment, be sure to include a copy of the signed & completed Evaluation Request Form (you will receive this after submitting your case online or speaking with a recovery specialist by phone).
Address the shipment to the Data Recovery Lab address specified on your Evaluation Request Form, and be sure to mark the package as "FRAGILE."
- Use a trackable shipping method
When choosing a shipment service, be sure to select a shipping method that includes package tracking & delivery confirmation. Depending on the value of your media, you may want to consider using shipment insurance as well.
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